naptu2:
The pictures are sourced from Getty Images, Alamy Images and Pinterest, (https://www.pinterest.com/chocypigs/diana-1990-nigeria-cameroon/) while the stories and captions are from my memory.

Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which had been frosty in the aftermath of the attempted kidnapping of Umaru Dikko by the Buhari regime, warmed up quite considerably in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The UK sold several tanks to Nigeria between 1988-1992 (the Labour Party raised questions in Parliament about this sale) and leaders of the two countries exchanged several visits.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher paid a working visit to Nigeria in 1988 (she visited Lagos and Kano) and a stop over visit in 1989, President and Mrs. Babangida paid a state visit to the UK in 1989, Prince Philip also visited Nigeria in 1989 ( he laid the foundation stone of the Muson Centre in Onikan) and the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Charles and Princes Diana, visited Lagos in March 1990. The visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales is the subject of this thread.

naptu2:
The different sections of the media covered the story from different angles. British tabloids wrote that the Prince and Princess should not travel to Lagos because they could get mugged there. They wrote that Lagos was one of the most dangerous cities in the world with high rates of crime and violence and the royals should not go there (I thought that the articles were quite laughable and crazy. Who would dare mug the Prince and Princess with the number of policemen and SSS operatives that would be deployed to guard them?). Columnists in the Nigerian mainstream press responded with articles that highlighted the crime rate in London at the time and the violence that erupted during the Poll Tax riots of 1989 (I pointed out that we had also had our own very violent SAP riots [the Ebony Magazine edition] in 1989).

The fashion press focused on Princess Diana and Maryam Babangida. Maryam Babangida was noted for her beautiful attires and she brought glamour to the position of First Lady (something that had not been seen since Victoria Gowon in the 1970s). Some women had a habit of watching the news just to see what Mrs. Babangida was wearing so that they could copy it. The visit occurred during a massive fashion boom in Nigeria that lasted between 1988-1991. Fashion houses like Maufechi, Dakova (David Kolawole Vaughan), Supreme Stitches (Folorunsho Alakija), Labanella (Princess Abba Adesanya), Chic Afrique (Opral Benson), etc witnessed growth and many young people wanted to be either fashion designers or wonder bankers. Some newspapers had established fashion columns and NTA2 Channel 5 showed New Trends, a popular fashion show, on their Super 7:20 belt. Princess Diana was also noted for her elegant clothes which were often auctioned to raise funds for charity. Fashion columns were devoted to the question of who would be better dressed, Maryam or Princess Di?

The entertainment and gossip columns (Vintage People, Weekend Concord, etc) turned their attention to Nigeria's own Prince and Princess - the Prince and Princess of Punk, Charly Boy and Lady Dianne Oputa. The press asked Charly Boy what he thought of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Charly Boy replied that he wasn't really interested in the visit. They asked him if he would meet with Prince Charles. He told them to ask Prince Charles if he would come to the Punk Palace and meet with him. Charly Boy was still very popular at this time. This was not long after his successful songs Big Bottom and 1990.

naptu2:
The Prince and Princess were offered the use of State House Marina, but they chose to stay aboard the Royal Yacht Brittania, which was moored at Marina (across the road from State House). They were also offered the use of the Mercedes 600 Pullman (W100), but they chose to use one of two Daimler stretched limousines that are usually parked aboard the Royal Yacht (they also used British High Commission's Range Rovers).

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The Prince and Princess meet children of British expats at Marina in Lagos. Behind them is one of the stretch Daimlers and behind that is the Royal Yacht Britannia.

naptu2:
The Prince and Princess arrived Nigeria on March 15th and they were met at the Murtala Muhammed Airport by The Chief of General Staff, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu and Mrs. Rebecca Aikhomu. They were taken to State House Marina where President and Mrs Babangida were waiting to receive them. They then retired to the Royal Yacht. The Royal Yacht looked absolutely beautiful beside the Marina (particularly at night when the lights were on).

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(On the red carpet) Vice Admiral Augustus Aikhomu and Prince Charles. Behind them are Mrs Rebecca Aikhomu and Princess Diana. Behind Mrs. Aikhomu is the Foreign Minister, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman. Murtala Muhammed Airport, March 15, 1990.

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Princess Diana and Mrs. Rebecca Aikhomu at Murtala Muhammed Airport.

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Prince Charles and Princess Diana in front of the Presidential Lounge at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.



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The Royal Couple at State House, Marina.

naptu2:
That night, they were hosted to a state banquet by President and Mrs. Babangida at the State House Marina.

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Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, Mrs. Maryam Babangida, Princess Diana, Prince Charles and President Babangida at State House, Marina just before the state banquet began.

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Fashionistas: Maryam Babangida and Princess Diana.

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President Babangida reads his speech and proposes a toast to the royal couple.

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naptu2:
The next day, Princess Diana and Mrs Babangida inspected products made by rural women as part of the Better Life For Rural Dwellers programme (the pet programme of Mrs Babangida). The exhibition was held at the Tafawa Balewa Square. Earlier in the day, the Prince and Princess had visited the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where they donated some equipment to the hospital.

[img]http://naijachronicles.files./2018/10/10698510_1490957851161517_5529830693197574842_n.jpg[/img]
Princess Diana and Maryam Babangida at an exhibition of Better Life products at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

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Princess Diana and Maryam Babangida at the Better Life fair. Behind Mrs. Babangida is the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Lateefat Okunu.



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The Prince and Princess at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

naptu2:
The Prince and Princess also met with the Lagos State Governor, Colonel Raji Rasaki and Mrs. Fatimat Rasaki at Lagos House, Marina.
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naptu2:
On March 17 the royal couple visited Maiduguri where they met the Shehu of Borno, were treated to a Durbar, visited a leprosy hospital and a village just outside the city.

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Princess Diana at the palace of the Shehu of Borno.

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Princess Diana and Prince Charles at a leprosy hospital in Borno.

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Prince Charles and Princess Diana visit a village near Maiduguri.


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naptu2:
The Prince and Princess were in Port Harcourt on the 19th were they watched a boat regatta and visited a village outside the city. They then returned to Lagos.

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Prince Charles, Group Captain Ernest Adeleye (Rivers State Governor) and Princess Diana watch a boat regatta.

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naptu2:
The farewell ceremonies were held at State House Marina, then the Prince and Princess were seen off at the airport by Admiral and Mrs. Aikhomu. President Babmgida returned to Dodan Barracks via the Ikoyi Road gate. That was the first time I had seen a Head of State use the Ikoyi Road gate since the 1970s. The next time I would see a Head of State use that gate would be in 2012 when President Jonathan used that gate to get to his helicopter.

A few weeks after the Prince and Princess' departure, I was woken by an explosion. There was a second explosion before I could react. The battle of Ikoyi Road had begun (April 22nd 1990). Panhard AML, Scorpion tanks and artillery pieces were used during this battle. There was fighting at Bonny Camp, which was in the direct line of sight of where the Royal Yacht was moored. Some people who were involved in the debate about whether Lagos was safe enough for the Prince and Princess to visit then asked the question, what if the battle had occurred when the Prince and Princess where still here?

babyblissShop:
I remember they visited Enugu and we're hosted by the governor Col. Robert Akonobi. They also commissioned the British council library at NUT house at Otigba junction. Yours truly saw them live. Princess Diana was really beautiful.

ANGELMARVE:
To do what?

mujahid777:
Watch as APC starts parading this as one of buhari's achievements